Drainage device



Dec. 13, 1949 J. E. MARTIN I DRAINAGE DEVICE Filed March 23, 19467latented Dec. 143, 194i) UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE` 2,491,124 RAINAGEniivioiiv John Edwar'dlidartin, Oak/Park; Ill.

Appiiearin March 2e, 1946, serial No. 656x153 The'present'inventionpertains to a novel and improved device for unse inVassociation with a'soillledp'ot, jar or similari container'for plantsand th'e like to drain'lo'cal accumulations of water therefrom,preventing stagnation of the water androttingjof` matter in the soil,with consequent restriction ofthe liealtiiy growth oi' a plant intnejcontaine'r; y

It is an objectr ofthe' invention'to provide a capillary. drainagedevice of the type described for" pottedplant's which reduires nospecial provisionsin the construction of the pot orA container withwhich the device is associated,l and by which excess" 'liquid is'effectivelyA removed from a container, even'thou'ghthe bottom and sides"of su'ch container be imperforate.

Anotherobject is to provide a drainage device whichrnaybe readily andquickly inserted to any point in tlie'soil in the pot, after' theplanting ofthe'pbt, enabling the device to be positionedly for'exampleleither adjacent the bottom' of the pot', adjacent' the roots ofthe potted plant, or in any' other location inV which an objectionableaccumul'atio'n'of liquid' has occurred oris likely t0"`a1S't^`.

A. more specificA Objectis to' provide a capillary drainage deviceincluding an elongated, relatively'- rigi'd, liquideimpervoustube havinga quantity' and the likewhich is characterize'dbyV novel wickv meanshavingampl'e capillary'and evaporating capacity' for the intendedpurposes.

Yet another object 'is to'provide a liquid drainaged'evice whichcompltes a continuous path of liquidcirculationthrough a mass ofsoil`,.thereby edualiz'ing thev humidity ofthe soil, preventing the.accumulation and stagnation of water atwth'e b'ottrn' oranyotheriloc'al area of the mass, accompanied by thedeterioration orrotting of plant food," fertilizer'or other matter normally carried bythe water'in its circulatory path.

The foregoing statements are indicative in a generalw'ay of i' thenature of the invention, but other'and more specific objects will beapparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding".` of theconstruction and operation of the'devicl All.'

Two embodiments of thev invention-are pre-y sented herein for purpose ofexemplication,- ,but it will be appreciated that the invention is sus;ceptible of incorporation in other modiedforms coming equally within thescope of the appended claims.

in the drawings,

Fig. iris a view in transverse; vertical sectionthrough an earth andplant iilled flowerpotof well known type, illustrating onemodeoarra-nging the drainage device of my invention-in operu ativerelation to av potted plant, and-showing in dotted lines an alternativearrangement of the device;

Fig. 2V is an'enlarged face view ofthedrainag device in elevation;

Fig. 3' isv an enlarged View inside elevation, further illustrating: thestructure of thel device;

Fig. i is a viewl in sectionon aline'Y generally corresponding to linet-i of Fig; 2*;

Fig. 5' is a bottom plan, viewedvv endwise of the device, furtheriliu'stra'tingi certain wick lockingprovisions; and

6 isv a'fragrnentary perspective View' illus# trating`modified'ernbodim'ent oi". the invention'.l

The present invention affords a simple andinexpensive drainage devicerfor4 the renioval of. excess localized accumulations 'of waterfi'ronraneartliillled flovferpot, bowl' or other plant-container, contributing toan equalized"distribution of moisture throughoutv the soil in' thecontainer. in' the case ofl the usual plant container, par# ticularlythose which lack a drainage opening at the bottom thereof, aseriousvobjection has ex# isted in the fact that the inevitableaccurrmlau tions oi excess water in the pot result inthe stagnation ofthe water, deterioration and rotting'v of the plant food, fertilizerorother matterinV the' soil in which the'plant is set; and consequentdamagetothe plant itself, or retardation orhalt# ingof its normal healthandgrowth. The water' which is from time'to time supplied to theplant isa carrier for various types of fertilizer and plant food, enablingthesame to'be forwarded eX'- peditiously through the soil to the rootsof the plant. Obviously, the beneficial-action of thesev foods andfertilizers is impeded or destroyed-if they are permitted to reach astate of deterioration prior to exerting their growth-promotionalfunction. Likewise, a great excess of water at one point in the plantcontainer' may beaccompanied by undue' dryness at another.

AThe present device eliminates the above objections inproviding for theexpeditious capillary removal to and evaporation of excess liquid insubstantial capacity at the top of the soil, thereby establishing acontinuous circuitous path for the travel of liquid through the soil andequalizing the humidity of the latter. The device includes an improvedabsorptive wicking element housed in a liquid-impervious tube orenvelope, and exposed at both ends thereof, said tube having provisionsfor retaining the wicking material from displacement during insertion ofthe tube in the soil.

Along with the foregoing benets, the device obviates the danger ofdrowning plants in injudicious and excess watering. Furthermore, itinduces proper aeration of the soil at the plant roots.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I designates a pot,bowl, container or the like for growing plants, which is of a standardcharacter, being completely closed at its inclined side and bottom, i.e., there being no provisions for the gravity drainage or other type ofremoval of liquid at either of these areas. The container I0 is normallyfilled with a quantity of soil II treated or enriched, if desired, bythe addition of any of a large number of standard soil foods,fertilizers, etc. A growing plant is designated by the reference numeralI2, having the roots I3 thereof extended in normal growing dispositionsubstantially beneath the surface of the soil.

The reference numeral I4 generally designates the drainage device ofthis invention; this is illustrated in Fig. 1 in two alternativepositions thereof in use. In solid lines the device is shown in asubstantially upright position, resting near or on the bottom of thecontainer I0 and projecting above the surface of the soil II in thelatter, whereas in dotted line the device is shown with the lower endthereof located adjacent the roots I3, the top also extending above thesoil. It will be understood that the device I4 is intended to bedisposed with its lower end at any point at which an objectionable localaccumulation of liquid is found or apt to be found; and in any operativeposition of the device it is located to extend upwardly of the soil inthe container, its end projecting above the surface. So located, thedevice functions rapidly and efficiently in removing excess moistureupwardly to the top of the device, Where it is evaporated in obviousmanner.

Referring to Figs. 2 through 5, wherein specific details of constructionof the device I4 are illustrated, the latter comprises an external,elongated tube or sleeve I5 fabricated of material which is imperviousto penetration by water or other liquid solutions or compositionsnormally found in the soil. It is also relatively stiff to enable itsthrusting insertion into the pot, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1,after the plant has been set and the pot lled with soil. A cylinder ofwell known cellulose-base plastic material, Plioflm Celluloid, fiber, orother appropriate composition in suitable gauge will be suitable for mypurpose. Also, coated or treated fiber board, metal, or any of a largenumber of different types of readily available plastic material areavailable for use. Similarly, simple equivalents of such preformed rigidenvelope or tube will ocvour to those skilled in the art.

Internally of tube I5, there is disposed a quantity of strands I6 of asuitable absorbent wicking material, such as loose-bodied string. Thesestrands are bent double upon themselves, with the bight I1 thereofdisposed adjacent the lower or forward end of tube I5. A retainerelement I8, which may be of material similar to that of the tube, isdisposed through said blghts, having rearward engagement with theforward end of the tube I5, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Thisprevents rearward displacement or shifting of the wick strands I6 intube I5 when the latter is thrust downward through the soil.

The ends of retainer element I8 may be curved rearwardly to reduce theirresistance to the insertion of the tube in the soil. For the samepurpose of facilitating insertion, as well as of further exposing thelower end of the strand-like wick, the tube I5 is preferably shaped toimpart a. pointed character to its lower end. In the illustratedembodiment, the tube end is slotted to provide V notches I9 exposing thestrands and to dene the points 20 whereby ready insertion of the tubeinto the soil is made possible. Retainving member I8 fits in opposednotches, as illustrated in Fig. 3, locking the wick effectively inplace.

At their opposite ends the strands I6 project a substantial distanceabove the adjacent or top tube end. These strands are preferablyfabricated of a suitably soft, absorbent string material of `loose body,and it will be observed that the multiplicity of strands presents arelatively large area lat the exposed end of the device for largecapacity evaporation of liquid therefrom. Sufl'lcient of the strands areemployed to ll the interior of tube I5 well and provide ample capillarycapacity.

It is believed that the intended use and operation of the device arewell understood from the foregoing description. It may be disposedIwherever desired in the plant pot for a period adequate to remove theundesirable accumulation of liquid, then shifted at will or as dictatedby the conditions prevailing in the pot. It will be apparent that thedevice eliminates the need for special provisions in the pot itself toinsure removal of excessive moisture. It may be inserted after the pothas been planted, eliminating the need for special care or provisions tothis end during the planting operation. The device, in operation,completes a normal circulatory path for liquid with which the plant issupplied, removing the excess liquid by evaporation and withoutmessiness after said liquid has traversed its circuit.

In Fig. 6 I illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention, similarin all respects to the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, with theaddition of a perforated cap 2| to house the exposed evaporating ends ofthe strands I6. This cap has a bead or ange 22 tting over or screwed onthe upper end of tube I5 and carries a multiplicity of Ventilating holes23 enabling free access of air to the strands and resultant unimpededevaporation from the latter. The cap 2| improves the appearance of thedevice to a considerable extent and protects the exposed ends of thestrands I6 from clogging or other damage as the result of coming intocontact with the adjacent surface of the soil.

It will be noted, with reference to Fig. 1, that the device I4 shouldnot only extend above the surface of the soil II but also to, andappreciably above, the top lip of the pot or container. This eliminatesthe possibility of inadvertent wetting of the wick I6 during watering ofthe plant, which would offset or destroy the beneficial action of thedevice.

Although particular reference has been made to use of the device inconnection with potted plants or the like, it will be readilyappreciated that it has utility in the proper growing of unpottedplants, by reason of its adaptability to be thrust into the earth,notwithstanding a considerably compact condition of the latter. It isthe elongated character and rigidity of the tube or enveloping means I4for the capillary material which enable theversatility of use referredto in preventing stagnation and rotting at local areas of excesshumidity, completion of a normal circulatory path for liquids carryingplant foods and/or fertilizers, prevention of overwatering and drowningof the plants, aeration of the soil adjacent the roots for optimumgrowth, and many other beneficial results to which a balanced conditionof humidity in the soil or earth contributes.

Those skilled in the art will immediately appreciate that variousfurther modifications, alterations or revisions of the structuredescribed above are readily possible, within the scope of the invention.I therefore desire that the latter be construed sufficiently broadly tocover all such obvious modifications, within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A device for draining liquid from any location in a volume of soilfilling a plant container, comprising an elongated, liquid-impervioustube, a multiplicity of doubled strands of wick material extendingthroughout the tube, the bights of said strands being exposed at theforward end of said tube, and a transverse strand-securing elementextending through said -bights and engaging said tube to preventshifting of the strands relative to the tube upon insertion of saidforward end substantially below the surface of said soil, said tubebeing of suflicient length to extend above the soil surface in anyposition of the tube in the soil for the evaporation of moisture fromthe air-exposed wick material.

2. A device for draining liquid from any location in a volume of soillling a plant container, comprising an elongated, liquid-impervioustube, a multiplicity of doubled strands of wick material extendingthrough the tube, the bights of said strands being exposed at theforward end of said tube, and a transverse strand-securing elementextending through said bights and engaging said tube to prevent shiftingof the strands relative to 50 the tube upon insertion of said forwardend substantially below the surface of said soil, said forward end beingsharpened to facilitate said insertion, said tube being of suicientlength to extend above the soil surface in any position of the tube inthe soil for the evaporation of moisture from the air-exposed Wickmaterial.

3. In a device for draining liquid from soil lling a plant container,comprising an elongated, liquid-impervious tube open at both ends andprovided with a multiplicity of doubled strands of wicking materialextending throughout the length of the tube, said strands having thebights thereof arranged at a forward end of said tube, a transverse,strand-securing element extending through said bights and engaging saidtube to prevent shifting of the strands relative to the tube uponinsertion of said end substantially below the surface of said soil, saidforward end being pointed to facilitate said insertion, the strandsprojecting a substantial distance outwardly of the opposite tube end forthe evaporation of moisture therefrom.

4. In combination with a soil-filled plant container, a devicefor'draining liquid from any location in the soil lling said container,comprising an elongated, liquid-impervious tube open at both ends andprovided with a multiplicity of doubled strands of wicking materialextending throughout the length of the tube, said strands having thebights thereof arranged at a forward end of said tube, a transverse,strand-securing element extending through said bights and engaging saidtube to prevent shifting of the strands relative to the tube uponinsertion of said end substantially below the surface of said soil, saidforward end being pointed to facilitate said insertion, the strandsprojecting a substantial distance outwardly of the opposite tube end forthe evaporation of moisture therefrom, said opposite tube end beingdisposed above the surface of said earth in the operative relation ofthe parts.

JOHN EDWARD MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 8, 1922Number

